UMass Chan mRNA Therapy Eliminates Pancreatic Tumors in 50% of Mice
Updated
Updated · newslinklive.com · Aug 15
UMass Chan mRNA Therapy Eliminates Pancreatic Tumors in 50% of Mice
1 articles · Updated · newslinklive.com · Aug 15
Summary
About 50% of mice with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma had complete tumor responses after an experimental UMass Chan mRNA immunotherapy and stayed disease-free for up to one year after treatment ended.
The single-shot treatment combined five cytokine mRNAs with three tumor-antigen mRNAs to break down the cancer’s fibrotic barrier and help immune cells recognize tumor cells as foreign.
Researchers reported reduced fibrotic material and increased tumor necrosis, calling the durable protection unusual in pancreatic cancer mouse models where tumors typically return.
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, with a 3% five-year survival rate at stage IV and 13% across all stages, underscoring the need for new approaches.
The therapy is still preclinical and untested in patients; the team is now adapting it for an investigational new drug application and future clinical trials.